Bairstow, Wood star as England close in on victory

Australia’s woes extended on day three of the fourth Ashes Test in Manchester as Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood combined to put England on the cusp of levelling the series at 2-2. The wicket-keeper bombed his way to an unbeaten 81-ball 99 to take England to 592, stretching the first-innings lead to 275, before Mark Wood rattled Australia late in the day, removing Khawaja, Smith, and Head to leave the visitors reeling at 113-4 at stumps.

Having suffered a chastening day in the field on day two at the hands of Zak Crawley and Joe Root, Australia endured another bleak bowling performance against the invigorated English batting unit. Resuming the morning on 384 for 4, Ben Stokes and Harry Brook struck half-centuries to extend England’s lead past 150 in the first session. Cummins got Australia’s first wicket of the day by castling Stokes for 51 before the second new ball, taken after 90 overs, brought a flurry of dismissals.

Josh Hazlewood had Brook caught at long-leg by Mitchell Starc and added Woakes, Wood, and Broad in quick succession either side of Lunch to complete his tenth five-wicket haul. Jonny Bairstow, though, kept the runs flowing amongst the spell of wickets before putting on a sensational 66-run stand with Jimmy Anderson for the final wicket.

Bairstow threw caution into the wind, bludgeoning the weary Australian attack with sheer brutality. The wicket-keeper got to his 51-ball half-century with a six over backward square leg and creamed 50 runs off the last 31 deliveries he faced before being cruelly denied a century. Cameron Green dismissed Jimmy Anderson lbw to leave the Yorkshireman stranded on 99 at the non-striker’s end, bringing an end to the England innings on 592.

Mark Wood took control of the game after Bairstow’s fireworks with the bat, making three key inroads in the Australian innings before the close of play. The speedster removed Usman Khawaja off his first over, nicking off the left-hander on 18. Chris Woakes added a second for the hosts shortly after, with David Warner dragging one onto his stumps.

Steve Smith survived a close call on his second ball, with his edge just dropping short of Joe Root at first slip, but the number four couldn’t survive the day and was bounced out by Mark Wood for 17. Smith was Wood’s 100th scalp in Tests and he soon added his 101^st as Travis Head fended a surprise short one to gully, leaving Australia reeling at 113 for 4 at stumps, trailing by 162.